Automobile anti-theft alarm and control unit

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for protecting a vehicle such as an automobile from theft and/or other improper use including a first double pole double throw switch, a relay having first and second normally open controlled switches and a second normally closed double pole, double throw switch. When the first switch is manually shifted to the protective position, the first switch electrically connects the primary winding of the ignition coil or the like to ground so that the vehicle cannot be started and also electrically connects the vehicle battery to the relay via the vehicle devices which operate off the battery so that if any of these devices are used while the first switch is in the protective position the relay is activated. The activation of the relay causes a latching current path to be completed in parallel with the vehicle devices so that the relay remains activated even if all vehicle devices are thereafter shut off, and further causes a noisemaker such as the vehicle horn to be connected to the battery to sound an audio alarm. Once activated the relay remains activated until the first or second switch is manually opened.

United States Patent [151' 3,654,602 Jones Apr. 4, 1972 [54] AUTOMOBILEANTI-THEFT ALARM AND CONTROL UNIT 7] ABSTRACT [72] Inventor; James A.Jones 2 4 York Avenue, Apparatus for protecting a vehicle such as anautomobile from Cleveland Ohio 441 13 theft and/or other improper useincluding a first double pole double throw switch, a relay having firstand second normally Flledl 1970 open controlled switches and a secondnormally closed double pole, double throw switch. When the first switchis manually [21] Appl' 90297 shifted to the protective position, thefirst switch electrically connects the primary winding of the ignitioncoil or the like to [52] U.S. Cl ..340/64, 340/276, 307/ 10 ground sothat the vehicle cannot be started and also electri- [51] Int. Cl i..B60r 25/04 cally connects the vehicle battery to the relay via thevehicle [58] Field of Search ..340/63, 64, 65, 276; 307/10 devices h h pr e off the attery so that if any of these devices are used while thefirst switch is in the protective posi- 5 References Cited tion therelay is activated. The activation of the relay causes a latchingcurrent path to be completed in parallel with the vehi- UNITED STATESPATENTS cle devices so that the relay remains activated even if allvehicle devices are thereafter shut off, and further causes a Claps Xnoisemaker such as the vehicle horn to be Connected to the 35254l48/1970 Copelan "307/10X battery to sound an audio alarm. Once activatedthe relay 3,569,931 3/1971 Baxter ..340/63 X Primary Examiner-Alvin H.Waring AttorneyCushman, Darby & Cushman remains activated until thefirst or second switch is manually opened.

3 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTEDAPR 4 m2 3,654,602

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS ,"zww w ww BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART ANDSUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an apparatus forprotecting a vehicle such as an automobile from theft and/or otherimproper use.

The theft and other misuse of vehicles such as automobiles are one ofthe major problems of society. Because of their mobility, value andavailability, they are tempting both to the joy rider and professionalwho are both little hindered by most security devices with whichvehicles are equipped. Locks can be easily picked and ignition systemscircumvented.

In response to this problem, many different types of security deviceshave been developed to provide better protection against theft and/orother misuse. In some such devices, for example those shown in the US.Pat. Nos. to Hall 3,419,729 and Proctor 2,935,730, a hidden switch isprovided in or on the vehicle which the operator can shift to anoperative position when the vehicle is left unsupervised. When theswitch is in this operative position, any attempt to start the vehicleor to operate any of the devices which normally operate off the carbattery, such as the dome light or radio results in sounding an alarm,for example by operating the horn with which most vehicles are normallyequipped.

While generally satisfactory, such devices in general have a number ofdrawbacks. First, it is desirable that any audio alarm sounded as aresult of attempting to start the vehicle or use any of its electricaldevices continue after the attempt ceases so as to frighten the thiefand call attention to his crime. Further, it is desirable that theprotective device prevent the vehicle from being started at all, evenwith the audio alarm wailing, so that a bold thief cannot drive off withthe horn blowing.

The present invention relates to a novel apparatus of the type generallydescribed above in which the vehicle cannot be started when a firstswitch is in a protective position and further any attempt to start thevehicle or operate any of the electrical devices of the vehicle resultsin an audio alarm being sounded. Further, the audio alarm, onceinitiated, continues even if thereafter all of the electrical devices onthe vehicle are shut off. Once begun, the audio alarm can be terminatedby manually opening a second switch whose location is preferably hidden.

These functions are accomplished, in the embodiment of the invention setforth below, by an apparatus adapted to be used with most if not alltypes of vehicles now employed and including a first double throw,double pole switch, a relay having first and'second normally opencontrolled switches and a second normally closed double pole, doublethrow switch. When in a protective position the first switchelectrically connects the primary winding of the ignition coil or otherstarting component to ground so that the vehicle cannot be started,

and also electrically connects the vehicle battery or other source ofelectrical energy to the relay via the electrical devices of thevehicle, such as the radio, heater, air conditioner, etc., which operateoff the battery so that if any of such devices are turned on while thefirst switch is in the protective position the relay is activated. Whenthe relay is activated, one of its controlled switches completes acurrent path through the relay via the second switch so that the relayremains activated and the audio alarm operative even if all vehicledevices are thereafter shut off, and its other controlled switchcompletes a current path through a noisemaker, such as the automobilehorn, also via the second switch. Once activated, the relay remainsactivated until the switch is manually opened. The specific connectionof these elements, as discussed below, has been found to be particularlyefficient and economic.

Many other objects and purposes of the invention will become clear fromthe following detailed description of the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The drawing shows a schematic of thenovel apparatus of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference is now made to thedrawing which shows a schematic of the novel invention of thisapplication connected to the electrical system of a vehicle, such as aconventional automobile. As mentioned above the apparatus includes afirst double throw, double pole switch 20 having individual switches 22and 24, a second double throw, double pole switch 26 having individualswitches 28 and 30 and a relay 32 having normally open, controlledswitches 34 and 36 and a coil 38.

When the first switch 20 is manually shifted from the illustratedprotective position to the inoperative position it normally occupieswhile the vehicle is in operation, individual switch 22 is opened sothat the ignition coil 40, which is linked to ground by switch 22, canbe energized to start the vehicle. Further when switch 20 is in itsinoperative position, switch 24 connects battery 42 to the usualelectrical devices of the vehicle, such as the radio, heater, courtesylights, hood lights etc., which are schematically represented by aswitch 44 and load coil 46, so that such devices can be normally used.

However when switch 20 is manually shifted into its illustratedprotective position, switch 22 connects primary winding of ignition coil40 to ground so that coil 40 cannot be energized and the vehicle startedas long as switch 20 remains in the illustrated position. Thus anyattempt to short ignition switch 41 creates a short circuit whichrapidly drains the battery 42 so that no further attempt to start thecar with battery 42 is possible. Further in the protective position,switch 24 connects one side of battery 42 to one side of relay coil 38which is of a type which will operate on the voltage of battery 42. Theother side of coil 38 is connected to ground via the electrical devicesrepresented by switch 44 and load coil 46 and also to ground vianormally open switch 34 and normally closed switch 28.

Thus, if any of the electrical devices of the vehicle are activated,even momentarily, a current path is completed through relay coil 38 viaschematically represented switch 44 and load 46. The flow-of currentthrough coil 38 closes normally open switches 34 and 36. Closed switch34 completes a latching path in parallel with the electrical devices sothat even if operation of all devices is ended after relay 32 isactivated, relay 32 remains activated until switch 28 is opened.

Further, the activation of relay 32 closes switch 36, thus completing acurrent path from battery 42 through noisemaker 50 via normally closedswitch 30 so that noisemaker 50, which may be, for example, the vehiclehorn, sounds an audio alarm. Noisemaker 50 continues to sound an audioalarm as long as relay 32 remains activated.

As long, as relay 32 remains activated, switch 34 grounds the electricaldevices of the vehicle so that they cannot be operated after relay 32 isactivated. Relay 32, once activated, is deactivated by manually openingswitches 28 and 30 and thus interrupting the latching circuit throughcoil 38 or by returning switch 20 to its inoperative position. Switch 20may be located exterior to the vehicle and switch 26 interior or viceversa and either or both switches may be hidden and may be operable onlywith a key, if desired.

Many changes and modifications in the above described embodiments of theinvention can of course be made without departing from the scope of theinvention. Accordingly that scope is intended to be limited only by thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1, Apparatus for protecting a vehicle having a battery, an ignitionswitch, ignition coil, for starting said vehicle with one side of awinding connected to ground and the other side connected to said batteryvia said ignition switch and a plurality of electrical devices operableoff said battery comprising:

a relay with a coil having one side connected to one side of saiddevices and first and second controlled, normally open switches,

a first double pole double throw switch having a first protectiveposition connecting said other side of said winding to ground so thatsaid vehicle cannot be started and a short circuit of said ignitionswitch connects said battery in a short circuit and connecting the otherside of said relay coil to said battery so that whenever said firstdouble pole switch is in said first position, and any of said devicesare operated, current flows through said relay coil to cause said firstand second controlled switches to close and a second positiondisconnecting said other side of said winding from ground and connectingsaid one side of said devices to one polarity of said battery, and

a second double pole double throw switch having a first positionconnecting said one side of said devices and said one side of said relaycoil to the other polarity of said battery via one of said controlledswitches so that said devices cannot be operated when said onecontrolled switch is closed and said first double pole switch is in saidfirst position and connecting said battery to a noisemaker via saidfirst double pole switch and the other of said controlled switches sothat when said first double pole switch is in said first position andsaid other controlled switch is closed said noisemaker sounds an alarmand a second position disconnecting said one side of said devices andsaid one side of said relay coil from said battery and disconnectingsaid noisemaker from said battery.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said vehicle has a horn and saidnoisemaker includes said horn.

ground.

1. Apparatus for protecting a vehicle having a battery, an ignitionswitch, ignition coil, for starting said vehicle with one side of awinding connected to ground and the other side connected to said batteryvia said ignition switch and a plurality of electrical devices operableoff said battery comprising: a relay with a coil having one sideconnected to one side of said devices and first and second controlled,normally open switches, a first double pole double throw switch having afirst protective position connecting said other side of said winding toground so that said vehicle cannot be started and a short circuit ofsaid ignition switch connects said battery in a short circuit andconnecting the other side of said relay coil to said battery so thatwhenever said first double pole switch is in said first position, andany of said devices are operated, current flows through said relay coilto cause said first and second controlled switches to close and a secondposition disconnecting said other side of said winding from ground andconnecting said one side of said devices to one polarity of saidbattery, and a second double pole double throw switch having a firstposition connecting said one side of said devices and said one side ofsaid relay coil to the other polarity of said battery via one of saidcontrolled switches so that said devices cannot be operated when saidone controlled switch is closed and said first double pole switch is insaid first position and connecting said battery to a noisemaker via saidfirst double pole switch and the other of said controlled switches sothat when said first double pole switch is in said first position andsaid other controlled switch is closed said noisemaker sounds an alarmand a second position disconnecting said one side of said devices andsaid one side of said relay coil from said battery and disconnectingsaid noisemaker from said battery.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 whereinsaid vehicle has a horn and said noisemaker includes said horn. 3.Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said other polarity is ground.